Heiress to the fortune of Wal-Mart Stores, Alice Louse Walton (born October 7, 1949) is one of the richest women in the world. As of Feb. 16, 2021, her net worth is $67.5 billion which places the American heiress on 9th place at the world's richest person in Forbes Billionaires 2020 and on 1st place at the world's richest woman in Forbes Top 10 Richest Woman in the World.

 

Alice Walton is the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton. Alice was born in Newport, Arkansas. She completed her B.A. in economics and finance from Trinity University in San Antonio. After her graduation, she began her career as an equity analyst for the First Commerce Corporation. She was also the vice-chairperson at the Arvest Bank Group. Alice Walton established an investment bank called Llama Company in 1998 and served as the Chairperson, President and CEO of the company.

 

Alice Walton also was the first chairperson of Northwest Arkansas Council. Northwest Arkansas Council is noted for its major role in securing the development of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. Walton came up with the initial capital to finance the construction of the airport which was central to the creation of the airport. In honour of her contribution to the construction of the Northwest Arkansas Regional airport and her support to the transportation improvement throughout the Arkansas region in general, the airport terminal was named Alice L. Walton Terminal Building.

 

Alice Walton is a board member of the Walton Family Foundation through which she is engaged in her philanthropic activities. She is an active member of the Board of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Board of Advisors for the University of Arkansas Graduate Business School. Alice L. Walton Chair in Finance was established by the University of Arkansas in 1998.

 

In 2011, she opened the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in her hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. Crystal Bridges features works from the likes of Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell and Mark Rothko. And the Chairman of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

 

Walton is an avid art lover who purchased her first piece as early as a ten-year-old girl. Her interest in art was the major reason behind Walton Family Foundation's interest in the development of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. In December 2004, Walton purchased art worth around $20 Million at the auction of Daniel Fraad and Rita Fraad's art collection auction. Walton is on the board of the Amon Carter Museum in Texas.

 

In 2005, she purchased Kindred Spirits by Asher Brown Durand for a reported US$35 million. Among the numerous paintings purchased by Walton are a portrait of George Washington by Charles Willson Peale and other works of Winslow Homer and Edward Hooper. The paintings were purchased for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.

 

In January 2020, she took aim at America's "broken" healthcare system and unveiled plans to open a holistic health institute in Bentonville.

Despite being one of the richest women on the earth, Alice lives a very humble life and is also a firm believer in philanthropy. Alice Walton currently lives in a 3200-acre ranch in Texas. Walton has maintained a reclusive life, focusing her energy and time on breeding race-winning horses.